I was watching a 4WD DVD the other night where the presenters were heading to Tasmania in a bunch of highly modified and very cool looking vehicles. We’re talking aggressive tyres, plenty of lift and twin-lockers all around. Now as it happens I know and like these guys, and generally have a lot of time for them, but it was disappointing to see the attitude towards track damage that was on display.
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You know the kind of thing I’m talking about. Promoting the attitude of hitting mud holes at Mach speed, slinging rooster tails thirty feet in the air, tyres spinning, engines revving their heads off. Generally just ripping the track to shreds, when there was an easy bypass in shot most of the time too. It’s all well and good when a competition vehicle does it on private property with clearly designated courses, but when you’re on an iconic public track like the Balfour, it really grinds my gears to see such disregard for the terrain.
What’s worse is that young, up-and-coming off-road drivers look up to these guys. They’re showing them that this is how things are done. It’s bullsh*t. For any beginners out there who happen to be reading this, trust me, if you drive like this on a trip, anyone along for the ride who knows what they’re doing is going to mentally mark you down as a peanut.
Hey, it’s four-wheel driving. A bit of wheel spin is to be expected, especially in mud, but having a controlled drive through an unavoidable bog hole is very different to doing your best to push the accelerator pedal through the firewall, wilfully tearing up the terrain and celebrating the sort of behaviour that inevitably leads to us being locked out of our own lands. It’s knuckle dragging at its best.
There’s absolutely no need to be a hero; if you come across an obstacle that looks challenging, there’s no shame in opting to take the easier line. Those that do get to camp on time and in one piece; those that don’t are usually back up the track wondering why their diff exploded and are hoping the tow bill won’t be too horrendous. They’re also the guys that have vehicles flog out on them after a few thousand kays while their mate is still going strong after 400K plus because they take things easy. In short, they’re idiots.
With track closures becoming ever more of a worry, I think it’s pretty reckless for people who should know better showing off exactly the type of behaviour that gets people offside. Especially the locals, I can’t imagine they’re too thrilled at having out-of-state yahoos come down there and cut up their tracks with absolutely no respect for the tread-lightly ethos. I have transfer case oil for blood, a diff-locked heart and a brain that runs on diesel and even I thought it was pretty poor form. If you have to drive like that, do it on private property on tracks designed for it, because doing it on public land is all sorts of wrong.
Don’t be that guy, educate that guy. Or we’ll all be here reminiscing about how great Tassie (and elsewhere) used to be for four-wheel driving.
Dex.
